John “Jack” Coleman

John David (Jack) Coleman, age 91, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 18, 2025.

Jack was born in southern New Jersey, in the town of Matawan. He was the second of two sons born to Edward J. and Agnes (Shields) Coleman and was raised in the family home at 308 Montgomery Street in Jersey City.

A proud member of the Class of 1950, John graduated from Ferris High School before continuing his education at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City. Determined and hardworking, he paid his own way through college and earned his bachelor’s degree before being called to serve in the United States Army. From 1956 to 1958, he trained in Ft. Lee Virginia and deployed to Korea where he served his country honorably. While there, he meticulously photo journaled his experiences.

Jack began his professional career with Equitable Life Insurance Company, where he was fortunate to receive early IBM computer training - a fortuitous opportunity that launched him into a long and successful career in the emerging world of technology. As a programmer and systems analyst, he contributed his expertise to several well-known companies, including Union Camp, ABC, Western Union, Otis Elevator, Nasdaq, American Express (in the World Trade Center), ADP and finally, Computer Horizons, where he worked until his retirement in the mid 1990s.

It was at Equitable Life that John met a young woman named Patricia Prior. Though his job would change, his heart stayed with Pat. The two fell in love and were married on Saturday, September 12, 1959, in a church in Jersey City. They began their life together in Jersey City on Varick Street before moving across town to 112 Duncan Avenue. In 1968, they made a lasting move to the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, where they raised their three sons and shared a loving marriage that spanned 63 years until Pat’s passing in February 2023.

Outside of work, Jack was a devoted family man. A loving and involved father, he poured his energy into raising his sons, creating lasting memories of pickup basketball games and family bike rides. He was an amateur artist and known for his corny Dad jokes. An avid self-taught handyman, he often spent time working on his cars and home repairs. As a grandfather, he cherished every moment spent with his four grandsons and three granddaughters, always offering kindness, wisdom, and warmth.

John was the beloved husband of the late Patricia (Prior) Coleman; the loving father of John R. Coleman and his wife Robin of Wayne, Robert Coleman and his wife Irene of Butler, and Martin Coleman and his wife Christine of Clifton; the proud grandfather of John Coleman III and his wife Lina, Emily Coleman, Marjorie Coleman, Christopher Coleman, Thomas Coleman, Maura Coleman, and Brian Coleman; the adoring great-grandfather of Jameson and Raelynn; and the dear brother of the late Edward Coleman.